Fort Myers Florida Weekly

Mustang GT is world-class American muscle

BEHIND THE WHEEL



 

 

The American muscle car is now far more than just putting a big motor under the hood of a storied brand name. The 2019 Ford Mustang GT is the proof.

This pony car retains a hint of retro style with the horse in the grille, threepiece taillights and fastback profile. But after a refresh last year, the current car wants to tell the world it’s a much sharper instrument for the road.

Well-creased fenders, sharply angled headlights, well-defined bumper air inlets and long air ducts in the hood give it a very serious face. Moving further back, the doors look like they were fashioned from girders, and the rear fenders are so tall that they wrap around the back and merge with the rear overhang. It’s well-defined sheet metal that has a tough muscle car look, but with enough sleekness for the modern age.

Inside, the arrangement hasn’t changed much since the 2015 redesign. It’s still cleanly laid out and retains some nice touches, including the toggle switches for sporting features like the adjustable ratio steering. The options list for the interior has grown longer. The most interesting of the addition is a 12-inch LCD digital instrument cluster. It makes the readouts customizable, including a sport setting where the tachometer dominates the center in a very racecar-like horizontal display.

 

 

A base Mustang GT coupe starts at $36,450. Upgrading to the Premium GT designation like our test car brings it to a $40,450 machine. We also had the appropriately-named Showstopper Red leather interior that looks like lava bubbling up within the black exterior. It’s a premium look, and it doesn’t come cheap. The red leather is only available once adding on another $2,200 option package that also includes a power driver’s seat, blind spot monitoring, and the 12-inch LCD digital instrument cluster.

Ford seems to really enjoy maximizing the available features of the Mustang. Some of the more interesting ones include Recaro sport seats and a security package that locks the center console with the doors. The active valve performance exhaust is particularly handy for those who don’t want to wake the neighborhood, but once on the open road, they know that a rumbling exhaust is better than any cup of coffee.

 

 

The broad price and option spectrum allows to spec out a car to individual tastes. Those who have aspired to a GT can still afford it, and those who want to experience fast-with-class can get a luxury experience. Regardless of financial stature, one piece that’s consistent with every Mustang GT is V8 power.

A 5.0-liter motor is a staple of this classic that goes back over half a century. While its history satisfies the purists, the current power plant is far advanced from its predecessors.

The motor produces a whopping 460 horsepower, which is not too far off the specialty Shelby GT500 power of a decade ago. Dual overhead camshafts and 32-valve heads develops the lowend power to be the first off the stoplight and enjoy plenty of in-town hijinks. When it’s time for the open road, the big V8 always has muscle in reserve.

Controlling all the power is easier now with a new 10-speed automatic transmission that’s actually shared with its cross-town rival Chevrolet Camaro. For those who really love to drive, a six-speed manual with rev matching comes standard. This action feels exceptionally close but has a telepathically on-center feel so that there’s never any guessing where the next gear is. The sixspeed is so good it will remind enthusiasts why they love driving.

There are even more driver-oriented options like magnetic ride dampening, Brembo disc brakes, upgraded Torsen rear differential and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport tires. It’s all part of a total package that takes the idea of a classic Mustang and delivers a true modern sports car package.

This is the only Ford car that will be saved from the crossover upheaval coming in the next few years. The company is showing that it will continue to love the Mustang name. But more than just preserving an icon, Ford has invested to make it a world-class sports car.

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